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Amy Miller Photography
When the clean nail salon concept Poppy & Monroe opened in Germantown in 2015, owners Sherri Coates and Karen Kops knew they were just at the start of their entrepreneurial journey together.
“The whole idea behind Poppy was [to build] a clean collective. So, we started with nails, and then we went on to skincare, with the idea being that everything, from the soaps and detergents we use to our essential oils, [are] as green as possible,” Coates says.
Their newest endeavor brings another form of clean wellness to Nashville: massage.
Set in a second-story apartment a few blocks away from the nail salon, Vetiver Modern Massage is a refuge, where muted colors, soft surfaces, and soothing music set the tone. Inside, there are four low-lying reclined woven chairs, each with its own comfy footrest and each facing a different direction, set up in the center of the room. With the chairs thoughtfully arranged in a communal space, massages are fully clothed, seated, and easygoing—but not without plenty of opportunities for privacy. Eye masks and earplugs are offered for a light- and sound-free experience. And, although chair treatments are limited to neck, head, and limbs, behind a curtain, there’s also a full massage table, which you can book for a more traditional, full-body treatment.
The room’s earthy elements, like fuzzy, fur-like rugs, and a sparse use of greenery, gives one a sense of feeling grounded, says Coates.
“We all need to be grounded. That’s why, when people walk in, we ask them to remove their shoes—it’s because we’re not on the floor enough,” she says.
Once you’re settled into a chair, the expert massage technicians take over, working in 30-, 50-, or 90-minute sessions that can be tailored to your particular aches and pains. The techs are highly trained in various methods, including physical therapy, reflexology, Reiki, and Thai massage. They also offer add-ons, including heated salt stones, scalp massage, sport balm, and for the ultimate anxiety and stress reducer, an option to add on CBD oil, or cannabidiol, which the studio sources from Yuyo Botanics grown in Ashland City.
With so many of the products they use or carry, Coates says, “We’re going straight to small-batch [producers], and we’re trying to give shelf space to brands that don’t have a lot of brand equity yet.”
The feel-good oasis is meant to become a frequent stop. Lunch breaks, post-work wind-downs, and regular, standing appointments are highly encouraged. There are also membership packages, starting at $75 a month, that encourage the regular and frequent use of massage to improve issues from sleep to anxiety to boosting the immune system.
“As soon as you sit down, we want to comfort you,” Coates says. “We want you to feel like this is your 30 minutes, whether it’s your version of a power nap or you’re getting away because your day is stressed. It really is a reset.”
1201 5th Ave N, 615-266-4377; vetivermassage.com